Steve Howes has done a remarkable job in his 12 seasons leading the men’s basketball program at Catholic University. Winning seasons, academic achievement and championships have been accomplished while graduating men of character who work hard and care about others.

Last season, for the third time in the past four years, Howes piloted the Cardinals to the Landmark Conference regular-season championship and NCAA Division III Tournament. CUA also captured its second Landmark Tournament crown since 2013. The Cards finished 22-6 and won 19 of their final 22 games, including 10 in a row. They hosted an NCAA Tournament first-round game.

Individually, senior Bryson Fonville was for the second consecutive season named All-American (D3hoops.com honorable mention). He is only the seventh player in program history to earn multiple All-American citations.

Fonville and sophomore Jay Howard were named first-team All-Landmark. It was the third such recognition for Fonville and second for Howard. Both were honored on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coaches’ Division III All-District (Mid-Atlantic) team. Fonville was second team and Howard first. In addition, D3hoops.com placed Fonville on its All-Mid-Atlantic first team.

Eight of Howes’ players earned recognition on the 2015-16 Landmark Winter Academic Honor Roll. Honorees must be at least sophomores and carry a 3.2 GPA or better. Senior Kyle Phanord was named to the Landmark Winter All-Sportsmanship team. He was also the league’s men’s basketball Senior Scholar Athlete. He and his twin brother, Kevin, are now at the University of Florida studying to be dentists.

Oklahoma City Thunder Coach Billy Donovan, who led Florida to national championships in 2006 and 2007, said Howes has “a terrific program.”

“In terms of where they compete and what they do, it’s impressive with how well they win, and they’re in the hunt every single year,” said Donovan, whose son Billy played two seasons (2010-12) at CUA before transferring to play for his dad. “I think that kind of success gets bred over time, from team to team, year to year, player to player.

“And I think Steve has done a great job carrying on the tradition.”

Howes’ basketball acumen is so highly respected that he has worked on WUSA’s Game On TV show during the 2014 and ’15 NCAA Division I Tournaments. His ability to communicate his insight into the playoffs received high praise from WUSA producers. They were so impressed they had him return to comment on the NBA playoffs and NBA Draft.

Career Achievements

In 12 years at the helm of his alma mater, Howes’ accomplishments include:

* Seven 20-win seasons, 10 postseason tournaments, 11 winning seasons

* Four conference championships, three regular-season titles, five NCAA Tournaments

* 2012-13 Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year (D3hoops.com). He and his assistants also garnered Landmark Conference Coaching Staff of the Year honors.

* Twice nominated (2013, ’15) for the Glenn Robinson National Coach of the Year award. (Only 15 Division III coaches are nominated each season.)

* Helped develop Chris Kearney ’13 into only the second Cardinal first-team All-American

* Coached two other All-Americans (Bryson Fonville, 2014-16; and Jason Banzhaf, 2009-11) who have been honored a total of five times

* Voted the area’s best men’s basketball coach in December 2008 in a four-round online poll conducted by The Washington Post

Knocking on the Door

Howes is No. 2 all-time among CUA basketball coaches in victories and winning percentage (234-103, .694). Mike Lonergan, his mentor and predecessor, is the only man he trails. Lonergan guided the Cardinals to the 2001 NCAA Division III National Championship and won .740 of his games (251-88).

Howes has for the past three years coached in the Congressional Fall Classic basketball game. The events feature a coaching clinic for more than 100 children and benefit the Hoops for Youth Foundation.

Helping Players Achieve Greatness

Howes’ coaching and mentoring has helped a string of players achieve high marks athletically and academically. His extensive network of friends and colleagues in college basketball and the NBA paid handsome dividends for Kearney when he found him an agent. Kearney went on to beat out a number of Division I players and start for a Spanish pro team in 2013-14.

Kearney said Howes worked diligently on his behalf after graduation.

“He was very helpful in sending out my tapes and my basketball resume to his whole basketball network,” he said. “He found the guy I signed with, who responded well to my tapes and everything else Steve sent him and told him about me.”

Kearney was the first CUA player to play professionally since Patrick Dwyer played for the Manchester (England) Magic in 2007-08.

The year prior, senior Scott Fumai was named first-team All-Capital Athletic Conference, while seniors Stephen Wheeler and Dwyer notched second-team honors. Wheeler and Fumai were named to the D3hoops.com All-Mid-Atlantic third team.

At CUA’s Senior Student-Athlete Banquet, Wheeler received the highest honor for male graduating student-athletes by winning the Harris Cup in recognition of outstanding achievement in athletics, academics, leadership and service. Dwyer was honored as Male Senior Student Athlete of the Year. Sean Kelly was presented a Student Athlete Advisory Committee role model award. In addition, Wheeler, Dwyer and Kelly were named to the NABC Honors Court with a minimum 3.2 cumulative grade-point average.

Kearney was awarded the 2013 Harris Cup.

Nick Olivero, who also played on the Cardinal football team, was honored as CUA’s 2006-07 Student-Athlete of the Year. He received the first John J. Convey Award, given to a sophomore who has succeeded academically, been active in student life and demonstrated leadership potential. Olivero was selected to the 2007-08 Winter Landmark Academic Honor Roll.

One of the Nation’s Finest Division III Programs

Howes works tirelessly to provide current and former players, students, coaches and fans with a model program in which they can take pride. He supports his players’ academic pursuits to the fullest and works to secure them valuable internships.

Howes has forged strong relationships with CUA basketball alumni and played a key role in organizing 100th-anniversary activities in 2010-11.

Howes was beaming with pride during the 2011 offseason. First Aaron Kelly, one of his former point guards, came to Washington, D.C., as an assistant coach at Bucknell for the second round of the NCAA Division I Tournament. John Becker, a former assistant, led Vermont to the 2011 America East title and a victory in the NCAAs. Terry Sullivan, another former Howes’ assistant coach, kept the good times rolling as assistant video coordinator for the 2011 NBA World Champion Dallas Mavericks.

Sullivan is now the Mavericks’ director of internal analytics. Shakir Evans ’15, another former Cardinal, is a graduate assistant at the University of the Pacific.

Howes enjoys his perch atop one of the nation’s top Division III programs.

“I am honored and privileged each day to be at the helm of this elite program,” he said. “There are countless players, managers and coaches who have built and added to this great legacy. I take very seriously my role as caretaker and work hard to add to our rich tradition of excellence on and off the court.”

Advancing to the Postseason

Howes earned his first CAC championship and NCAA Tournament berth in 2006 with a 79-70 victory over Salisbury (Md.). The Cards finished 21-7 and 10-4 in the league. Dwyer was named first-team All-CAC, while Shane Sowden garnered second-team Academic All-District 2 honors and received the Harris Cup.

Cardinal fans caught a glimpse of Howes’ coaching ability during his first year (2004-05). CUA finished 20-10, advanced to the CAC title game and Sowden was selected first-team All-Conference. The Cards accepted a bid to the ECAC South Region Championship and won their first two contests to advance to the championship game.

While working under Lonergan, Howes helped the Cardinals become one of America’s most dominant programs.

Building Championship Teams

During Howes’ two tenures (1998-2000, 2001-2004) as a CUA assistant, the Cardinals amassed a record of 121-26 (.823), won five CAC regular-season titles and two CAC Tournament championships. The Cards advanced to the NCAA Tournament each year, twice going to the Sweet Sixteen and once to the Elite Eight. The 2001-02 team went 26-3 to set the school’s season winning percentage record (.897). Howes has coached 15 players who have scored more than 1,000 career points.

Howes’ recruiting ability and talent-evaluation skills helped CUA land many of the recruits that formed the nucleus of the Cardinals’ 2001 National Championship team. Sophomore Matt Hilleary was named All-Tournament of the 2001 Final Four and was a two-time second-team All-American. He played professionally in Ireland in 2006-07 and the following year in Italy. William Morley, a freshman on the title-winning team, was CUA’s first first-team All-American in 2004.

Grooming Professionals

Howes specializes in shooting instruction and has conducted individual workouts for many top college and professional players. Roger Mason (10-year NBA veteran); Earl Hunt (Brown University); Chris Monroe (George Washington); Eddie Lucas, a 1999 second-round draft pick of the Utah Jazz; and James Gist, a 2008 San Antonio Spurs’ draft pick who is playing in Greece, are among the athletes he helped develop.

Monroe played in Europe for years before retiring in 2013, and he and Hunt are their respective school’s all-time scoring leaders. Mason retired in 2014 after finishing his career with the Miami Heat and is now director of player relations for the National Basketball Players Association.

When Mason played for San Antonio in 2009-10, Howes was a guest of Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich for the start of training camp. He has also been a guest of Tommy Sheppard, the Washington Wizards’ vice president of basketball operations, for rookie and training camp since 2009. From 2010-14, Howes participated in the invitation-only University of Florida coaches’ clinic.

Howes worked as head JV and assistant boys varsity coach at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School when it was in Wheaton, Md. During his three seasons (1995-98), he helped the Falcons achieve a Top 20 local ranking each year. He coached a host of NCAA Division I players, including Mason (Virginia), Monroe, Hunt, Gist (Maryland), Omari Isreal (Loyola, Md.) and Gini Chukura (Maryland). Another player, Kevin App, is head coach at Williams College.

In addition, Howes worked with two players (Zach Hilton and Chas Gessner) who played in the NFL. Hilton caught 35 passes for the New Orleans Saints in 2005, and Gessner earned a Super Bowl ring with the 2003 New England Patriots. John Butler, one of Howes’ Cardinal teammates, is secondary coach for the Houston Texans.

In 1998, Howes served as an assistant in the prestigious Capital Classic high school All-Star game. The contest featured NBA veteran Troy Murphy. Howes was on Lonergan’s staff for the following two seasons and then returned to Good Counsel before rejoining the Cards in 2001.

Howes and former CUA Athletic Director Mike Allen joined the 2008 NBA World Champion Boston Celtics when they were honored at the White House in September 2008 by President George W. Bush.

Playing Big-Time Opponents

For four straight seasons, the Cardinals opened the year with an exhibition game against a Division I opponent. After beginning their centennial season at Notre Dame in 2010, the Cards played Florida (2011), GW (2012) and Maryland (2013).

The games provide a tremendous atmosphere for CUA players, staff and fans and bring the university a great deal of visibility.

“We can’t buy this exposure,” Howes said. “The more that Catholic U. is in the media, whether we’re playing Notre Dame, Florida, George Washington or Maryland, the coverage is invaluable. Catholic U.’s name is out there in a positive way, and that aids everybody – past and present – associated with the university.”

Maryland Coach Mark Turgeon agreed to the contest partly because of his respect for Howes. The Terrapin coach had this to say about the Cardinals prior to their 2013 contest:

“Steve Howes and his staff have done a tremendous job building an outstanding program at Catholic University. They won 25 games and advanced to the Division III NCAA Tournament last season. We will be competing against a strong and disciplined team in Catholic. They value each possession and have a roster with good shooters and ball-handlers.”

The Cardinals also played a Division I opponent in the 2013-14 regular season when they traveled to Baltimore to play Loyola (Md.). The Cards opened 2014-15 at Atlantic 10 regular-season champion Davidson. They return to Notre Dame in 2016.

2014-15 Highlights

Howes led the Cardinals to the Landmark Conference regular-season championship and a home win over Alvernia in the NCAA Tournament. Their 23-6 record included 15 consecutive victories – second-most in school history – and a 15-0 start in conference play, a first at CUA.

The Cards, ranked as high as 14th in the nation (D3hoops.com), concluded the year with a loss at No. 1 Randolph-Macon in the second round of the NCAA playoffs.

Fonville became Howes’ second All-American in three seasons when the NABC named him to its third team. D3hoops.com and DIII News recognized the point guard as a fourth-team All-American.

Fonville was also named Landmark Conference Player of the Year. Howard garnered Rookie of the Year honors. Kevin Phanord, despite starting just one game, was selected Defensive Player of the Year.

2013-14 Highlights

The Cardinals (14-12) qualified for the four-team Landmark Conference Tournament. Corey Stanford was named to the DIII News All-Freshman Team and honored as Landmark and D3hoops.com Rookie of the Year. Fonville was voted first-team All-Landmark. Steve Limberiou was named second team. Fonville was also recognized on the league’s All-Sportsmanship team.

Limberiou and Jared Prince were selected to the NABC Honors Court. In addition, CUA earned an NABC Team Academic Excellence Award (min. cumulative 3.0 GPA) for the second straight year.

2012-13 Highlights

The Cards finished 25-4 and won the Landmark regular-season and tournament championships. Howes was a finalist for the Glenn Robinson National Coach of the Year award. Here are some more achievements:

* 25 wins tied for third-best in school history

* Won first-round NCAA Tournament game

* Ranked 12th in D3hoops.com final poll

* 15-0 home record & 12-2 conference mark

* Kearney first player in league history honored simultaneously as Player of the Year & Defensive Player of the Year

* Kearney named Mid-Atlantic Player of the Year, ECAC All-Star & first Cardinal chosen to play in Reese’s Division III College All-Star Game

* 21st in 3-point field-goal percentage (38.9); 37th in assists per game (15.7)

2011-12 Highlights

Howes guided CUA to the best start in school history (11-0), breaking a mark that had stood for 84 years. The Cardinals won two games in the postseason ECAC South Region Championship. CUA finished 19-9, the seventh time in Howes’ first eight years his team won at least 18 games.

Holmes was named second-team All-Landmark. Darrell Carroll’s name appeared on the Winter Landmark Conference Academic Honor Roll. Carroll graduated with a double major in international economics and finance and a 3.9 GPA. He was the nation’s only Division III student-athlete to be among the 10 finalists for the Arthur Ashe Award.

2010-11 Highlights

The Cardinals’ 21-9 mark included a 9-5 league record. Howes piloted the Cards to their first Landmark Tournament victory and an appearance in the conference title game. The Cardinals won twice in the ECAC playoffs before falling in the championship game.

CUA also won three league games by a combined 110 points, the program’s largest aggregate margin of victory in three consecutive contests. The Cards, playing at home, downed Moravian, 105-58; Susquehanna, 84-57; and Juniata, 68-32. The latter win, Jan. 29, 2011, was the day the program celebrated its centennial season by honoring former players and coaches.

Seniors Jason Banzhaf and R.J. Dixon were named first-team All-Landmark. It was Banzhaf’s third such honor and Dixon’s second. Banzhaf finished as the Cardinals’ third all-time leading scorer (1,822 points) and ranks No. 1 among players who competed exclusively in Division III. He and John Douglas are the only players in school history to be named honorable mention All-American three times.

Crowning Glory

CUA, the most successful team in Capital Athletic Conference history, punctuated its league affiliation by winning its second straight CAC championship in 2007. The crowning moment came in the Cardinals’ 85-75 come-from-behind victory on the road over Hood College. The CAC title was CUA’s seventh.

The win over top-seeded Hood put the Cards (23-6) into the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time in 10 years. Howes enjoyed his first NCAA playoff victory with a 58-37 triumph at home over Messiah College. CUA held Messiah to the third-lowest point total in NCAA Division III tournament history.

Howes led the Cards to three straight CAC title games, compiled an 8-1 league tournament record and won six consecutive contests in the CAC playoffs.

Coaching Tree

When Howes became the 20th head basketball coach in CUA history on July 19, 2004, he stepped into a role that has launched the careers of many successful coaches. In addition to Tom Young (Rutgers) and Jack Bruen (Colgate), Jack Kvancz served as George Washington’s athletic director from 1994-2011. Bob Valvano is an ESPN broadcaster.

Although he never coached the Cardinals, former CUA standout Jimmy Patsos followed his successful tenure as a Maryland assistant by becoming head coach at Division I Loyola (Md.). He was on Gary Williams’ staff when the Terrapins won the 2002 National Championship and is now head coach at Siena.

Along with John Becker, Aaron Kelly and Terry Sullivan, 2010-11 assistant coach Adam Petway is head strength and conditioning coach for men’s basketball at Arkansas. Ryan Hyland, a graduate assistant in 2012-14, is head coach at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.

Playing Days

After playing at Frostburg (Md.) State from 1991-93, Howes transferred to CUA for his final two seasons. He started 14 games as a junior under Lonergan, including a 12-point, 12-rebound performance at Gettysburg. He graduated from The Catholic University of America in 1996 with a degree in history.

A team captain and Coach’s Award winner at Good Counsel, Howes played on a team that set the Falcons’ record for most wins up to that point. He received the school’s Christian Conduct Award as a junior and graduated in 1991.

Community Service and Family

Howes, who taught religion and history at Good Counsel from 1997-2004, stresses the importance of community service to his players. They have visited youngsters at nearby Children’s National Medical Center and are active each year in events such as “Wreaths Across America” at Arlington National Cemetery. He also participates in SOME (So Others Might Eat) at his church, St. Peter’s in Olney, Md.

Howes is active in the NABC and has been a featured speaker at numerous basketball camps. He has served as director of the camp at Good Counsel and is co-director of CUA’s Cardinal Basketball Academy.

Stephen Todd Howes, 43, is a native of Washington, D.C. He lives in Olney with his son Michael Patrick, 12, and daughters Sarah Elizabeth, 8, and Allyson Marie, 4.